Throughout Hollywood's history, many a singer has parlayed chart-topping clout into a dance on the silver screen, with a wide range of results and impacts. This fall, that group includes pop/R&B icon Janet Jackson (TV's Good Times), returning in her first film role in seven years as part of the ensemble cast of Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? USA TODAY takes a look at six other musicians who made the leap to the big screen and asks Sean Smith, Entertainment Weekly's West Coast editor, and Glenn Kenny, Premiere.com's chief film critic, to weigh in on their Tinseltown star power.

Musical score: The Fresh Prince dusted DJ Jazzy Jeff to dish up movie-serving solo tunes like Men in Black.

Frame by frame: After proving himself in popcorn fare typified by Independence Day, he went method for a star turn in Ali.

Oscar status: Within reach twice, with best-actor nominations for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness.

The close-up: "He's made all his moves, from singing to TV to movies, very strategically and carefully," Smith says. "That's made it easy for audiences to follow along with his career."Says Kenny: "He hasn't been as active in initiating projects like Tom Cruise has, but he could write his own ticket. He has about as much clout as anyone in this business."

•Mark Wahlberg

Musical score: Though he scored with Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch, he arguably made more of an impression as the buff guy in the Calvin Klein undies.

Frame by frame: Impressive as everything from a wide-eyed porn star (Boogie Nights) to a foul-mouthed cop (The Departed), but just as well known these days as producer of HBO's hit Entourage.

The close-up: "He's someone who's had to actually renounce his musical past to make it here in Hollywood," Kenny says.Says Smith: "He started as a slab of beefcake with one hit song but became a true actor who's in this profession for the long haul. We'll soon forget he ever was a singer."

•Barbra Streisand

Musical score: It's La Barbra. Enough said.

Frame by frame: She has been in front of the camera in classics such as A Star Is Born and The Way We Were, served as actor and director in Yentl and The Prince of Tides. She recently returned to the big screen in the outlandish Meet the Fockers.

Oscar status: One for each hand, thanks to Funny Girl (best actress) and A Star Is Born (best music for Evergreen).

The close-up: "She's really the prototypical singer turned actor, even though on the surface she doesn't have that classic movie-star profile," Smith says. "She's more Broadway, very stagey, but she taught herself how to become an actress and a whole lot more."Says Kenny: "A phenomenon. Of course, it would be interesting to see her direct a movie that she didn't also act in, but her projects tend to be focused on herself as an actress."

•Dwight Yoakam

Musical score: He's still using his pipes, but Yoakam's biggest impact was as a late-'80s newcomer with an innovative Buck Owens-meets-honky-tonk sound.

Frame by frame: Yoakam does creepy frightfully well, from an abusive alcoholic in Sling Blade to a sociopath in Panic Room.

Oscar status: He could scare up a supporting statuette yet if one of his wackos were to catch the academy's eye.

The close-up: "Although he's not bankable as a leading man, as a character actor he disappears into his roles," Smith says.Says Kenny: "There's something amazingly natural about what he does. All his characters have this tense undertone to them."

•Ice Cube

Musical score: Founding member of the seminal rap group N.W.A., he later shot out the controversial hit solo album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted.

Frame by frame: Though starting on familiar turf (John Singleton's Boyz N the Hood), Cube graduated to action (Three Kings) and later comedy (the Barbershop movies).

Oscar status: No props yet from the gleaming big guy.

The close-up: "He has serious range, from sinister to comedic to warm," Smith says. "But he's a little stuck now in movies aimed mostly at the urban market that buys his music. With the right role, though, there's little doubt about his ability to be the lead in a film." Says Kenny: "Ice Cube seems mainly interested in making movies that make money. That's fine. 'Getting paid' is a rap-world aspiration that everyone shares."

• Cher

Musical score: From '60s flower child to '90s club siren, she's the diva who keeps on dancing.

Frame by frame: A natural screen chameleon, Cher can enrage (Silkwood), rivet (Mask) and amuse (The Witches of Eastwick).

Oscar status: She grabbed the gold for her romantic turn opposite Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck.

The close-up: "What's unbelievable about her is that she went from being a TV-era punch line to winning an Oscar. To do that, she had to fight, and she won," Smith says.Says Kenny: "Cher lined herself up with a series of great directors, and her performances for them raised eyebrows. As for why we haven't seen much from her lately, she really said it all in her Oscar speech, which was a version of 'I showed you, and I don't need you anymore.' "

To report corrections and clarifications, contact Reader Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification.

Critical acclaim: Will Smith, with his son Jaden, in The Pursuit of Happyness.

Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article.
Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.